Sandra Näslund led from start to finish in the women's final ©Getty Images

World champion Sandra Näslund won the first Ski Cross World Cup of the season at Zhangjiakou's Secret Garden resort, edging out Fanny Smith in what promises to be the first of many battles between the pair this season.

Sweden's Näslund hit the front early in the women's final and would not be caught.

Switzerland's Smith, winner of last season's crystal globe, had to settle for second place at the Beijing 2022 test event.

Smith had also finished in second place behind Näslund in the semi-finals, with Näslund winning all three of her races in addition to topping qualifying.

Marielle Berger Sabbatel from France was third and Austria's Katrin Ofner placed fourth in the final.

Sergey Ridzik of Russia won the men's event in a dominant fashion similar to that of Näslund.

Ridzik won all four of his races today and beat the reigning Olympic champion in the final.

It is only his second World Cup victory.

Canadian Brady Leman had to make do with second place, one ahead of former overall World Cup champion Bastien Midol of France.

Austria's Johannes Rohrweck completed the final line-up.

This test event for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics continues tomorrow with the conclusion of the season-opening Ski Cross World Cup leg.